The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
Responsibilities :
UNEP’s Disasters and Conflicts Branch works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
The Disasters and Conflicts Branch extends UNEP’s work to areas of the world where the natural and human environment have been damaged from conflicts or disasters.
The Disasters and Conflicts Branch promotes sustainable management of natural resources in conflict and disaster affected countries.
The branch’s work demonstrates to decision makers the importance of natural resources management as a precondition for sustainable development and as an instrument for peace building and disaster risk reduction.
More information can be found at www.unep.org/disastersandconflicts.
Within the Branch, the DRR Unit provides support on promoting Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) for helping support mandates defined by international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Through upscaling Eco-DRR initiatives, the Unit provides technical expertise to stakeholders, programme partners, and vulnerable communities to help advocate and adopt Eco-DRR within various contexts, with a focus on nature-based solutions for enhancing disaster and climate resilience.
Furthermore, the DRR Unit addresses rising industrial risks, fortifying environmental governance to mitigate pollution incidents, and safeguard public health.
UNEP works closely with national and local Governmental institutions, communities, industry partners, academia and civil society to promote environmental best practices.
The DRR Unit also liaises with other Units of the Branch in addressing environmental drivers and impacts of disaster risks and conflict as well as supporting conflict and disaster affected countries in addressing pressing environmental risks to help promote sustainable stabilization, recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Since 2008, UNEP has supported a unique partnership of 25+ organisations known as the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR), which promotes and advocates for Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) as well as adaptation to climate change-related risks.
PEDRR is the primary platform through which UNEP collaborates and leverages its influence on Eco-DRR.
UNEP’s Eco-DRR portfolio has five components: global advocacy, capacity building and training, field implementation, development of knowledge products and partnerships.
UNEP hosts the Secretariat of PEDRR which disseminates a weekly newsletter and manages PEDRR’s social media and public outreach.
This internship position is for a person who will support UNEP’s programmatic, communications and outreach activities for our Disaster Risk Reduction portfolio and support the PEDRR Secretariat and its other partnerships and networks.
The Internship is UNPAID and full-time.
Interns work five days per week (35-40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.
Requirements :
Master’s Degree (but within 1 year of graduation) or currently enrolled in a Master’s Programme or the final year of undergraduate degree Background in communications, environmental sciences, environmental policy, disaster management, climate change studies, informational graphics, graphic design, environment-related advocacy, or other related fields Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work.
However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.
Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.
